Apologies, things are a little out of sequence here. I will reshuffle some of the sections when I publish.

The bit with D should be before the conversation between Bennet and Phillips.

~O~

Presumptuous Heir Presumptive

Elizabeth woke feeling wonderfully refreshed. Having had the late-night discussion with her father the night before last, which helped her clarify her feelings, she now wondered whether those feeling were reciprocated.

Feeling restless she quickly dressed and made her way into the kitchen where cook was preparing breakfast. The woman offered Elizabeth a cup of tea and suggested, 'By the time you finish your cup, the rolls will be ready to come out of the oven.'

Once she had taken the last sip of tea, the cook handed Elizabeth a couple of rolls wrapped in a napkin which Elizabeth put in her pocket and set off on a brisk walk. There was already a nip in the air as the late October weather foreshadowed the winter to come.

As she walked, Elizabeth enjoyed seeing the changing colours of the trees through wisps of fog. Without considering her destination, she headed to Oakham mount, her favourite place to sit and think when she needed peace and quiet.

This morning, she was denied the solitude. As she crested the top of the hill, she heard a gentle nicker which warned her of another presence before she caught sight of Darcy turning towards her.

His somewhat pensive expression turned to a brilliant smile which welcomed Elizabeth and made her catch her breath.

'Miss Elizabeth, I did not expect to see anyone here this early in the morning,' he exclaimed and bowed in greeting.

'If you came here for solitude, I shall not intrude.'

'Oh no. I am delighted to have company… your company. I simply meant that your presence is an unexpected pleasure.' Darcy said as he gestured towards Elizabeth's favoured seat. 'Shall we sit?'

Once they were seated, just barely far enough apart to satisfy propriety, Darcy took a deep breath gathering his courage. This was a most unfamiliar situation for him.

Elizabeth looked at him wondering at his hesitation to speak but held her peace. Her patience was rewarded when he spoke. 'Miss Elizabeth. When I came to Netherfield, the last thing I expected was to meet a charming and intelligent lady like yourself. I find myself thinking of you much of the time unless I am actively concentrating on other matters. Yet whenever my mind is at leisure, my thoughts drift to you. I have come to believe that you are exactly the kind of lady I had hoped to find to make my life complete. I would like to have a chance to get to know you better and I hope that you feel the same inclination.'

Despite the determined words, Elizabeth thought she saw some uncertainty in Darcy's eyes, and she hurried to assure him. 'I confess that you have also been much on my mind as I thoroughly enjoy your company. Much of my reason is, that, apart from the men in my immediate family, I have never before encountered a gentleman who was willing to listen to my opinions. That is an attitude which is exceedingly important to me.'

Darcy's smile widened. 'It seems that in this we are much alike. You wish to be taken seriously as someone who has a mind of her own. In my case it is that I wish to be seen for myself rather than just a cornucopia spilling forth dresses, jewels and carriages.'

Elizabeth could not help but chuckle as she remembered Miss Bingley's efforts and said, 'It must be dreadful to be hunted by ladies who only wish to marry Pemberley.'

Darcy was surprised by her phrasing and joined her in laughter. 'That is precisely the problem I have had. Most ladies do no care whom they marry, as long as the man is wealthy and, ideally, has a title.'

'While I have some sympathy for ladies because they do not have many options to secure their future, I dislike their mercenary attitude. I am fortunate that to me marriage is an option not a necessity.'

'Since you have the option, what will it take to induce you into matrimony?'

'Primarily, respect and affection based on friendship,' Elizabeth answered seriously but then her lips twitched. 'Many novels these days espouse that to marry one must be head over heels in love. But in my opinion, having seen it happen, that kind of love can fade and unless you have a more solid foundation, you are left with nothing.'

'When, as you say, one has respect and affection based on friendship, it is my hope that any love felt will only grow stronger over time.'

'Mr Darcy, when I first met you, I would not have guessed that you are a romantic at heart,' Elizabeth could not resist to tease and Darcy appreciated the sparkle in her eyes.

'It is terribly unfashionable amongst the first circles. But I have seen too many marriages where the couple live separate lives. That is not what I wish for myself. I want a companion, a partner, someone with whom I can discuss anything.'

'That is an admirable ambition.'

'Indeed, which is why I hope you will allow me to call on you so that we may become better acquainted.'

'You do know that either of us may discover aspects in the other's personality which we find unacceptable?'

'It is my desire to discover this sooner rather than later. To that end, would you be agreeable to set aside the aspect of propriety which forbids us to speak honestly?'

'Good heavens, Mr Darcy. Are you actually suggesting that we say what is on our minds rather than speak in riddles?'

'Shocking, I know.'

'Quite shocking, indeed. You are fortunate that I have always been something of a rebel. But to answer your question, I would be delighted to have you call on me.'

'Thank you,' Darcy said fervently. Taking her gloved hand he placed a kiss on the back. Even through the leather, Elizabeth felt a heat spreading through her.

The moment was spoiled by a loud grumbling coming from Elizabeth's stomach. She firmly suppressed a blush as Darcy laughed. She said with mock asperity, 'I brought some breakfast, but you distracted me.'

'My apologies for being so inconsiderate,' Darcy replied as his lips twitched. His felling of superiority was dashed the moment Elizabeth retrieved the package from her pocket and opened the napkin. The enticing smell of the rolls set his own stomach to grumbling.

'Since I am generous, I shall share my breakfast with you as you are obviously just as hungry as I. Although I am not certain that you deserve such generosity after laughing at me,' Elizabeth announced and held a roll out to him.

'I should not deprive you of your breakfast,' he protested, but at Elizabeth's peremptory gesture he accepted the offering. 'You are kindness personified and I confess I was too nervous this morning to eat before going out.'

Thereafter they enjoyed their breakfast and a spirited conversation until it was time for Elizabeth to return home.

On his next visit to Bennet Hall, Darcy spoke to Bennet and received permission to call on Elizabeth. It was only at the end of the conversation that he might have committed a tactical error. Now that he made his interest in Elizabeth official, he would not have a chance at any more unchaperoned accidental meetings.

Bennet returned to his home and requested his mother to join him in his study.

As soon as they both were comfortably seated, he explained to her about Collins' letter, his visit to Phillips and what he had learnt. Bennet then waited patiently while Mrs Bennet sat in stunned silence as she absorbed the information.

Eventually she exclaimed, 'Heavens, if Fanny had known that Jane could inherit, you would never have had more than one child.'

'I have thought exactly that, which is why I prefer not to tell her. But you do realise that I will not allow Jane to inherit Longbourn. She would be utterly incapable of looking after the estate.'

'Let me guess. You nominated Lizzy as your heir in your new will?'

'I did indeed, at least for the moment. I may change that in time, but of all the girls she is the most capable of taking care of the estate. Especially if she ends up marrying Darcy. He is reputed to be an excellent master of his own estates, and he would be supportive to Lizzy.'

'What about the other girls? We have never spoken of their expectations. I simply assumed you would do well by them.'

Bennet smiled at his mother. She had been a wonderful support to him all his life and had trusteed him to do the right thing by everyone, even Fanny, whom she detested for her mercenary attitude and laziness. While Lizzy will get the lion's share of my wealth, she will also inherit the responsibility for taking care of Longbourn. For the other girls I have set aside…' he paused and grinned at his mother. 'One hundred thousand pounds… each.'

'I knew you were well off, but I had not realised how well.' She shook her head in wonder and again thought that it had been a wise decision not to allow Fanny access to that wealth as she would have insisted on frittering it away.

'Now that you know, I have another question. Should I explain to Collins about the entail via a letter or allow him to visit?'

'Much as I dislike the idea of hosting him, I doubt that he would believe you if you wrote to him. I believe it will be better to allow him to come, show him the entail document and get Phillips to explain it to him.

'Very well. I shall write and invite him to come for a few days,' Bennet agreed without enthusiasm.

The letter was sent and a few days later, Bennet received the reply that Collins would commence his visit on Monday the 18th of November by about four o'clock.

During the two weeks until Collins' arrival Darcy was an almost daily visitor. During those visits Darcy and Elizabeth came to know each other better To the delight of both, the more they learnt the more they were drawn to each other.

One of the things Darcy discovered to his relief was that while Elizabeth played an excellent game of chess and could make him work for his wins, she was not in the same class as Lydia. They were about even in ability.

Punctually at four o'clock William Collins arrived at Longbourn in his hired gig.

Bennet greeted him on the steps leading to the front door and had the mixed pleasure of seeing awe but also greed on Collins' countenance. On further inspection Collins was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. The air he assumed was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. At present this manner was marred by some petulance since he had to look up to Bennet.

Taking the parson to the small sitting room at the front of the house, Bennet briefly introduced Collins to his ladies who had been curious to meet this ridiculous sounding relative since Bennet warned them of his coming.

Collins declared himself delighted at meeting the ladies in the most effusive language. He complimented Mr Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth.

Since Collins was rather dusty from his travels, Mrs Bennet suggested that he might wish to refresh himself in his rooms and delegated a footman to attend the parson.

As soon as he was out of the room and the door was securely closed behind him, Lydia could not help it. She burst out laughing. 'Heavens, what an odd specimen of humanity he is. Does he truly think that one of us would marry him?'

'That is what he implied in his first letter. If any of you wishes to marry him, I shall consider giving my permission but I most certainly do not expect that he will appeal to any of you.'

When Collins returned to the sitting room, significantly cleaner, he commented, 'I am unsurprised that you and your family are looking so very trim, considering the stairs you have to climb on a regular basis. Would it not be more convenient to locate the family's bedrooms on the first floor?'

'You are quite correct. Which is why they are on the first floor. It is the guest rooms which are on the second floor.'

'But since I am family, should you not have given me a room amongst the family?'

All of Bennet's protective instincts came to the fore. He barked, 'Are you completely lost to propriety? There are only ladies in the family wing, five of whom are young maidens. What kind of a parson are you that you would wish to be housed amongst my daughters.'

Collins looked nonplussed at the venom in Bennet's accusation. 'Surely you would not imply that my cousins have anything to fear from me.'

Before the men could get obstreperous, Mrs Bennet intervened. 'You should know that there is only one empty bedchamber in the family wing, and that is in my suite. I most certainly do not want to share my rooms with a strange man, even if he is remotely related to us.'

The imperious manner in which Mrs Bennet spoke reminded Collins of his revered patroness, making him back down immediately. ''My most profound apologies, madam. I had not realised the situation. I would never impose myself on such an august personage as yourself.'

'It would be even better if you do not impose yourself on my granddaughters.'

Since Bennet had calmed down, he thought it advisable to change the subject. 'You were most fortunate to have been granted a living at such a young age,' he commented.

No further prompting was necessary, and Collins regaled them with paeans of Lady Catherine de Bourgh until they were ready for dinner.

During the meal, Collins changed the topic to comparing Bennet Hall to Rosings Park.

'It is a charming home you have here. While the décor is nothing like Rosings, I did not expect that the sizes of the rooms would be so similar. I shall be exceedingly comfortable living here.'

'I am sorry to disappoint you,' Bennet said mendaciously, 'but this house is not part of the Longbourn entail.'

'This house is part of Longbourn. As Longbourn is entailed onto me, it is part of my inheritance.'

Bennet thought the dinner table was the wrong setting to dash Collins presumptions as he had already arranged tan appointment with Phillips for the next morning. So he explained simply, 'This house is situated on the grounds of Longford, the estate I inherited from my great-grandfather when I was still a young boy, although it was held in trust for me until my majority. Longford adjoins Longbourn, which I inherited from my father when he and my elder brother perished two years after I reached my majority.'

'Is Longbourn of a similar size to this estate?'

Bennet answered repressively, 'No, it is not.' Despite Collins' eager expression Bennet refused to elaborate.

Having been stymied, Collins chose to give the family a most detailed description of Rosings Park, the various rooms and their appointments. He was even able to enumerate the number of windows and fireplaces. As the meal progressed, Bennet decided that there was not a single silence which Collins could not fill.

Bennet noticed that his ladies appeared to hurry through their meal so that they could escape their voluble cousin. Once he was left alone with Collins, the young man, who had been unable to keep his eyes of the sisters, could not resist any longer to raise a delicate subject.

'In my letter I indicated that I was ready to extend an olive branch to your family. Lady Catherine suggested that as a parson I should set an example to my parishioners and marry. To ensure that your ladies do not suffer losing their home, she told me to choose my bride from amongst your daughters. Having seen them, I have decided that Cousin Jane shall do very nicely for that honour. She is the oldest and most beautiful of the ladies and shall therefore be the perfect vehicle for future generations of Collins'.' He looked at Bennet as if expecting praise for his generosity.

He was to be disappointed. The casual way in which Collins informed Bennet that he would marry one of his beloved girls without even knowing them, simply basing his choice on appearance, raised Bennet's hackles. 'No,' he growled. 'Before you arrived, I had considered allowing my girls the option of marrying you if one of them chose to do so because she came to esteem you. But I would never allow them to marry a man who would pick one of them in the same manner as he would pick a pair of gloves.'

'But what about their future security? Do you not wish for them to have a secure home once you are gone?'

'My girls will have a home and without being beholden to you. I suggest you look for a bride at Hunsford.'

Collins felt confused and ill-used. He had come with good intentions but was rebuffed. He could not understand that Bennet would not be pleased to marry off one of his daughters to him. Surely having all those single females in the household must be a drain on his finances. And what was wrong with picking a wife for her beauty? While Bennet could have answered that question, he chose not to ask it.

The rest of the evening did not go well for Collins as his offer to read from Fordyce's Sermons was soundly rejected by everyone present.

Bennet's suggestion to read from John Cleland's novel had Collins fleeing the drawing room in horror.

When Cathy asked why the mention of a novel had caused such an upset, Bennet laughed, 'You are much too young for such literature, but it did its job rather nicely.'

~O~

A Most Attentive Father (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2024